Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-21
CLEVELAND AND THE SOLDIERS.
He Has Done More for the Soldiers Than
His Republican Predecessors.
u,it.n,Lr,r pnsf

He Has Done More for the Soldiers Than
His Republican Predecessors
PittSburg Post.
While President Cleveland has aimed to
stop abuses sure to bring the pension sys-
TEN into great disrepute, and has blocked
the schemes of the claim agents, it is easily
proven that he has done more for the SOL
iiers than his Republican predecessors,
and done better for the country at large by
far than any President during the last ~
wears. These facts are what make the
CALLED Republican jade vince. They are
not faced by the leaders OF that party, and
for the best Of reasons. Blaine lodges
them and Sherman falsifies them, while
the Republican press ignores facts anu hg-
ures and contents itself with a meaning
less fusilade about the flag incident.
Take the matter OF private pension bills
General Grant is his eight years admins
tration approved 4S5 of these claims; Hayes
in his four years 1903, and during the Car
field-Arthur term 736 were approved. In
the first two years Of President Clevelands
administration he approved S63 private
pension bills, or nearly double the number
of Grants eight years, nearly three times
the number Hayes approved in four years,
and II per cent. more than Garfield and
Arthur combined.
II is true President Cleveland vetoed
great number of these private claims, but
ONLY in one case, which was afterwards
rectified, was il shown the veto was not
an imperative duty to save the pension
system from the dishonor of sheltering un-
deserving applicants, dead beats and
frauds. In ONE cases the veto was inter-
posed to guard the rights OF the veteran.
We have an illustration of this in the case
of the hill for the relief of Private Parker,
of the Eleventh Vermont In yetolng this
bill President Cleveland said:
''This claimant filed an application for
pension in the year 1880, before the pas
SAGE of the bill herewith returned. The
Commissioner of Pensions, in ignorance OF
the act of Congress, allowed the claim I'M
der the general law. As this decision OF
the Pension Bureau entities the beneficiary
named to draw pension from the date OF
filing his application, which under the
provisions of the special act in his favor
would only accrue from the time OF its
passage, | am unwilling that one found
worthy TO be placed upon the pension rolls
by the bureau 10 which he properly APP
piled should be the actual loser by reason
OF a special interpositiOn of Congress IN his
behalf"
Parker under the general laws was en-
titled to pension from the date OF his
discharge, February 1G, 1864, and the
Presidents veto saved him q pension for
twenty-five years, tour months and
eighteen days or Sl,O74 more than he
would have received had the President
approved the special act. This case Is
only important in thati shows the watch
full care the President exercises to guard
the rights of pensioners. He Is their
friend not only in such matters, but IN
protecting the lists from undeservlng and
unworthy applicants. The great majority
of the private pension bills the President
vetoed covered claims which had under
gone the most careful scrutiny OF
the pension bureau--a department
specially organized for making such
investigations-and had been rejected
rs dishonesty or out of the list oil
assistable classes. A wOuld-be pensiOner,
defeated in this way, then generally at
the iustigation OF the agent with whom he
is to divide his money! throws himself on
the member of Congress from his district,
and induces the latter 10 introduce prl-
yate bill in his behalf. Hundreds of these
bills come before every Congress and are
passed, not in regular session of the day
and after full discussion, but at some
evening meeting, when only members in
IL, these
to the number of perhaps few dozen. 1t
was q scandal of the session that scores OF
these bills passed the Senate with only
half q dozen members present. They
went through by universal consent with
out examination or discussion.
President Cleveland left no doubt what
ever of the spirit which actuated him IN
withholding his signature from many OF
these private claims. Again and again IN
his messages he indicated that he fureSaw
the use that partisanship would make of
his Interpretation OF his duty, but he never
allowed this to influence him in any deci-
| sion. In one of his veto messages he says:
al have not been inSensible TO the suggeS-
tons which should influence every citizen,
either in private station or official place, to
exhibit not only just but a generous APP
probation of the services of our cOuntry's
| defenders. In reviewing the pension legs
| latiOn presented To me, many bills have
been approved upon the theory that every
| doubt should he resolved in favor of the
proposed beneficiary. l have not, however,
| been able TO entirely divest myself of the
| idea that the public money appropriated
for pensions is the soldiers fund, which
i L l.. Nnl 90 40 IN n
| fication of those who, in
the defense of the Union and in the nations
service, have worthily suffered, and who,
in the day of their dependence resulting
from such suffering, are entitled to the
| benefaction of their government. This re-
Election lends to the bestowal ofpensiOns a
| kind of sacredneSs which invites the adops
| ton of such principles and regulations as
| viii exclude perversiOn as we'll rs insure a
! liberal and generous application of CRATE
| full and benevolent designs. Heedlessness
and disregard of the principle which I'M
derlies the granting of pensions are unfair
\ to the wounded, crippled soldier who is
| hOnored in the Just recognition of his gov
eminent. Such a man should never find
| himself side by side or the pension roll
| with those who have been tempted to at
| tribute the natural ills to which humanity
is heir to service in the army. Every re-
Taxation of principle in the granting Of
pensions invites applications without
merit and encourages those who for gain
urge honest men to become dishonest"
Another case is worth noting "a showing
the spirit of the President Lieutenant
Colonel Loren Burritt, receiving pension
of ST. q month, would have had this in
creased if the President had signed a
private bill passed i'm his behalf. In ex-